Split Travel Information

The Basics

Time

Electricity

Language

The official language is Croatian.

Travel Health

No vaccinations are required, but it is recommended that all
travellers get vaccinations for hepatitis A and hepatitis B.
Travellers who plan to spend a significant amount of time
travelling off the beaten track should consider getting a typhoid
vaccination. There is a risk of tick-borne encephalitis for those
travelling in forested areas during the summer months.

The medical facilities and care in Croatia is fairly good, with
free emergency medical care available to UK citizens with a
European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), though some medicines are in
short supply in public facilities. Non-UK nationals are advised to
invest in comprehensive health insurance and those who need
particular medications should take the supply needed for the
duration of their stay with them, with a doctor's letter on hand to
get them through customs.

Tipping

In tourist or upmarket restaurants a tip of 10 percent will be
appreciated, but otherwise it is usual to just round up the bill if
the service has been good, unless a service charge has already been
added. Tour guides expect to be tipped. Most other services receive
a small tip by rounding up the bill.

Safety Information

Most visits to Croatia are trouble-free, and there is no
particular threat of terrorism. Crime levels are low and violent
crime is rare; however, petty theft can be a problem in busy
tourist areas, so it is worth keeping a careful eye on possessions.
Outside the normal tourist routes travellers should be aware that
unexploded mines might remain in rural areas, particularly in
Eastern Slavonia and the former Krajina. Tourists are urged to be
cautious in former conflict areas, including Eastern Slavonia,
Brodsko-Posavska County, Karlovac County, areas around Zadar, and
in more remote areas of the Plitvice Lakes National Park, and stay
on known safe roads and areas. If in any doubt check with
authorities before setting out into remote areas.

Local Customs

Passports, or some form of identification, should be carried at
all times. In some towns and cities it is prohibited, or considered
rude, to walk around town centres shirtless or in swimming costumes
- sometimes, such as in Dubrovnik, there is signage indicating that
the practice is prohibited by law and offenders will be fined, but
even when no such signage exists travellers should pay attention to
local conventions.

Business

Business in Croatia is conducted in a formal manner: punctuality
is key, dress should be smart and conservative (suits and ties are
the norm for men) and polite greetings are made with a handshake.
Titles and surnames are usually used unless otherwise indicated and
business cards are usually exchanged at the beginning of a meeting.
English and German are widely spoken, but any attempt at speaking
some Croatian will be appreciated. Women frequently hold high
positions in business and are well respected. Building a good
working relationship is important in Croatia and it is useful to
work with a reliable local partner. Although Croatia appears
typically European in its dealings, business can take some time to
conclude. Business hours are usually 8am to 4pm, Monday to
Friday.

Communications

The international access code for Croatia is +385. The outgoing
code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the
United Kingdom). The city code for Zagreb is (0)1 and for Dubrovnik
(0)20. Public phones take phone cards, which can be bought in post
offices and hotels. GSM operators have active roaming agreements
with most international networks, and cover most of the country.
Internet cafes are available in the larger towns and cities.

Duty Free

Non-EU travellers to Croatia can enter the country with the
following items without incurring customs duty: 200 cigarettes or
50 cigars or 250g of tobacco; 4 litres of wine, 1 litre of spirits,
and up to 16 litres of beer; eau de cologne and perfume for
personal use; and other goods up to the value of HRK 3,200 if
arriving by air, or HRK 2,200 if arriving by other means.
Regulations apply to firearms and radio instruments. No item of
archaeological, historical, ethnographic, artistic, cultural or
scientific value may leave the country without a license issued by
the appropriate authorities.

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